Lincoln firefighter who helped shape city's fire department retires after 35 years of service

After more than three decades of service, Lincoln Fire Department retired engineer Corey Leighty is closing a chapter that helped shape both the department and the growing city it serves.

Over the last 35 years, Leighty watched Lincoln Fire evolve from a largely volunteer operation into a full-time department protecting a community of more than 50,000 people. When he first joined in 1990, Lincoln was home to just 7,500 residents and relied heavily on volunteers to answer emergency calls.

Working in protective services runs deep in Leighty's family. His father served as police chief in Lincoln after rising through the ranks in Roseville, and his brother also volunteered with the Lincoln Fire Department in the late 1980s. Leighty followed shortly after, officially committing himself to the